Guitarist John Scofield and pianist and vocalist Jon Cleary will play a series of concerts this and next month throughout the United States and present their exploration of the rich repertoire of South American music heritage.
According to John Scofield’s words they are playing “R&B classics from the 1950’s, written among others by Willie Johns, Professor Longhair and Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson. These are songs we both love, whose popularity is on the rise again.”
Among compositions that Scofield and Cleary perform are Fever, Cuttin’ In, My baby’s in love with another guy, Soothe Me and Stardust. This is a follow up collaboration of the two musicians who released an album of gospel songs in 2009 in a trio with bassist George Porter Jr. , songs that the duo that toured Europe in April performs as well.
“This is a special project. I met Jon in the 80’s and I have been a fan of his music for many years. He is one of the great keepers of the flame in New Orleans piano tradition. He is a real fountain of knowledge and one of the great R&B singers of our time”, said John Scofield in a recent interview.
John Scofiled was nominated for the Grammy Award in two categories this year, Best Improvised Jazz Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album. We listened to him at Jazz Fest in 2005 and 2010 with his trio and in 2013 when he performed with his Uberjam Band. Watch below a full length recording of the Sarajevo concert which was broadcasted by television channel Mezzo.